2006 Honda 599

This 600-class minimalist sportbike has long been an enthusiast favorite, and now it’s better than ever.

The 599 defines what a versatile, fun street bike should be, with distinctive, aggressive good looks, lightweight chassis and exhilarating performance. It all adds up to total riding pleasure in a middleweight package.

If there’s one idea every red-blooded American understands, it’s hot-rodding. Like both jazz and rock and roll, it started here first, and on a singularly simple premise-the most bang for the buck. And if that meant shoe- horning a fire-breathing engine into granny’s sedan, so be it; just stand back and let the fun begin.

That same train of thought lay behind the creation of Honda’s original middleweight Hornet, released in 1998 in Europe. Namely, stuff a 100-horsepower inline-four engine into the chassis of one of Honda’s most-popular domestic models in the 250 ranks. The result? The best power-to-weight ratio in the class, plus handling so responsive it seemed telepathic.

In concept and execution, Honda’s middleweight 599 proved itself so profoundly and magnificently correct that it received only a few substantive change in five years of production.

Engineers made subtle styling changes to double duty. Elsewhere, Honda concentrated on detail changes; small touches that make the difference between a magnificent motorcycle, and one that’s merely great.

What hasn’t changed, though, is the 599’s original mission profile: to be a thoroughgoing hot-rod with a potent engine in a chassis that offers the sort of razor-sharp handling previously exclusive to supersport motorcycles-and with a versatility that supersports could never match. All the changes made to this latest middleweight 599 enhance the bike’s fundamental virtues, while still providing that most enduring of American maxims: providing maximum bang for the buck.

Features

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New for 2006

New 41mm inverted HMAS fork with a new triple clamp and steering stem for superior handling and stability.
Fully integrated lightweight instrumentation includes asymmetrical analog-style tachometer, LCD speedometer, six-segment fuel gauge, a/b tripmeters with countdown function and clock. A separate LCD built into the tachometer displays engine coolant temperature.
New two-piece mini cowl surrounds instrumentation and features a tinted flyscreen for an aggressive look.
Newly designed front fender improves styling.
Dual texture seat has low-slip material and adds to rider and passenger comfort.
Gold finish on the front and rear brake calipers plus gold anodized front disc carrier add distinctive look.
New silver colored wheels.
New Metallic Black color.

Unique Features

Powerful, aggressively tuned 599cc inline four-cylinder engine features dual ignition maps for smooth, strong performance.